Rectal Cancer

Who Gets Rectal Cancer? Is it common?

Rectal cancer is more common in men and less common in women. With the advancement of radiological and endoscopic devices and tests, the diagnosis of rectum and colon cancer becomes easier. With the increase in awareness, the incidence of this cancer is also increasing. Approximately 1 million patients worldwide are diagnosed with rectal and colon cancer every year. Although there is no definite result in Turkey, it is known that approximately 35 thousand rectal and colon cancer diagnoses are made every year.

At What Ages Is Rectal Cancer Common?

Colon and rectum cancer does not have a definite age, but rectal cancer is frequently seen after the age of 30 or 35. Generally, the majority of patients are diagnosed at an older age of approximately 50-55 years.

What Are the Symptoms and Causes of Rectal Cancer?

What are the symptoms and causes of rectal cancer? This cancer occurs in many different types of people. However, many of them are detected in routine controls without any symptoms of rectal cancer. Rectal cancer symptoms generally include the following.

• Bleeding in the rectum or noticing blood in the stool is one of the leading causes of rectal cancer. Approximately 8 out of 10 people experience bleeding in the stool or in the rectum.
• It is among the reasons that determine the detection of mucus in the stool.
  Changes in the gut, such as excessive gas, diarrhea, and constipation are among the symptoms of rectal cancer.
• A feeling that the bowel is empty or that there is not enough stool despite frequent visits to the toilet is also seen.
• Pain in bowel movements is also among the symptoms.
• Unnoticed sudden bleeding in the stool leads to anemia. Shortness of breath due to anemia, rapid heartbeat, dizziness are the symptoms of rectal cancer.
• Intestinal obstruction can also be experienced when the tumor grows over time and closes the exit area. Obstruction of the intestines causes severe pain in the abdomen and severe cramps.
• The growth of the tumor over time can also cause changes in the stool. Stool size may be reduced. Stool as thin as a pencil may indicate rectal cancer.
  Sudden weight loss without exercise or diet may be the first sign of rectal cancer.

What Are the Stages of Rectal Cancer?

Stage 1: It is the earliest diagnosed stage of the disease. Cancer cells come together and hold the inner and middle parts of the large intestine. In addition, there is no involvement in both lymph nodes and organs distant from the large intestine.

Stage 2: Cancer cells that come together occupy all layers of the large intestine. It starts from the innermost layer and reaches the outermost layer. It can also spread to neighboring organs. Involvement is not observed in both lymph nodes and organs distant from the large intestine.

3. Stage: Regardless of the permanent damage to the wall of the large intestine, tumor spread has begun to occur in the lymph nodes, which are the neighbor of the large intestine.

Stage 4: It is the most advanced stage of rectal cancer. Regardless of the spread of the tumor in the lymph nodes and the wall of the large intestine, there are metastases in organs such as the peritoneum, liver, lung, bones and brain.

The treatment of rectum and colon cancer in all stages mentioned is surgery. In addition, according to the location of the tumor in the rectum and colon, according to its stage, size and considering the tumor complications of the patient, the treatment of surgery differs depending on the application for urgent reasons such as perforation, obstruction and bleeding.

What are the Treatment Methods?

Rectum and colon cancers are treated with many methods. Surgical treatments are radiotherapy and chemotherapy known as radiation therapy. These treatments are the ones that are used quite frequently.

Before planning the treatment process for rectal cancer, the patient’s condition and prevalence should be checked. For this reason, it should be known at what stage the cancer is in the treatment process.

What Tests Should Be Done to Understand Rectal Cancer?

Tests for early detection of rectal cancer are as follows;

1- With colonoscopy,

2- By looking at the blood in the stool,

3- CT, computerized tomography colonography examination,

4- Flexible sigmoidoscopy examination,

5- DNA tests in stool should be done.

How is Colonoscopy Procedure Performed?

Colonoscopy is the process of examining the inside of the intestine by entering the large intestine, which has both a light and a camera at the end of the instrument, and the bowel is cleaned beforehand, and by giving air, the intestine is slightly swelled. This process takes about half an hour to an hour.

If deemed necessary during the procedure, biopsy samples are taken from the mucosal layer in the intestine and tissues with abnormal appearance. If polyps are seen during this procedure, the polyps can be removed during the procedure. If there is bleeding in the large intestine during the procedure, this bleeding is stopped during colonoscopy.

Which Doctor Should Be Seen for Rectal Cancer?

Patients with symptoms of colon or rectal cancer should immediately consult their General Surgery or Gastroenterology department physicians. Since surgical interventions are at the forefront in the treatment explanations of this type of cancer, it is a very important issue to choose a specialist physician. For the treatment of colorectal cancer, it is very important to choose medical units such as general surgery, gastroenterology department or oncology, and hospitals with a sufficient medical infrastructure.

Can Rectal Cancer Be Contagious?

It is not possible for a patient with rectal cancer to transmit this disease to another person. There is no evidence that cancer is transmitted by air, inhalation, contact, or sexually. In addition, colon and rectal cancer are genetically transmitted. People with a previous first-degree relative with colon or rectum cancer are more likely to have this type of cancer.

What are the Differences between Rectum Cancer and Colon Cancer?

The causes and symptoms of both cancers are very similar to each other. Although these cancers are very similar to each other, their treatments are quite different. The most common cause of these types of cancer is that the rectum remains in a narrow space in the pelvic cavity, which is difficult to separate from other structures and organs.

Can Hemorrhoids Cause Rectal Cancer?

Hemorrhoid disease has nothing to do with rectum and colon cancer, but bleeding especially in the rectum and pain experienced in that area are also seen in rectal cancer. It is also noticed in hemorrhoid disease. Most patients with rectal and colon cancer have symptoms of hemorrhoids along with it. Since patients liken these problems to hemorrhoids, it may be too late to consult a doctor. When similar symptoms occur, a physician should be consulted without wasting time. It is very important to detect rectum and colon cancer early.